Born 13 May 1844 in Norwich, Vt., where he also attended Norwich University and was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity. George Albert Converse was appointed midshipman 29 November 1861. He was a pioneer in the use of electricity on board men-of-war, in experimentation with and introduction of smokeless powder in the Navy, and in development of torpedo boats. In command of Montgomery from 1897 to 1899 he took an active part in operations off the coast of Cuba with Admiral Sampson's squadron during the Spanish-American War. He was promoted to Rear Admiral on 21 Oct. 1903 serving successively as Chief of the Bureaus of Equipment, Ordnance, and Navigation, continuing as Chief of the latter Bureau for a year after his retirement in 1906. He died in Washington, D.C., 29 March 1909. Rear Admiral Converse was considered of the ablest officers in the Navy as well as known as an expert on ordnance, especially regarding torpedoes. In 1904, when only the first sixteen “torpedo boat destroyers” were in commission, President Theodore Roosevelt ordered the Navy to convene a board under his leadership to "consider the type and qualities of torpedo vessels and their machinery." The board developed a functional description for future destroyers, which first applied in the design of the Smith and Paulding-class "flivvers" of fiscal years 1907-1911. Rear Admiral Converse was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. U.S. Navy Photograph

Bill Gonyo

78k

Artist's conception of a cutaway view of the Converse by the renowned graphic illustrator John Barrett with the text written by naval author and historian Robert F. Sumrall. Their company Navy Yard Associates offers prints of most destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and aircraft carriers in various configurations during the ship's lifetime. The prints can be customized with ship's patches, your photograph, your bio, etc. If you decide to purchase artwork from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource.

"For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces during theSolomon Islands Campaign, from November 1, 1943, to February 23, 1944. Boldlypenetrating submarine-infested waters during a period when Japanese naval and airpower was at its height, Destroyer Squadron TWENTY THREE operated in daringdefiance of repeated attacks by hostile air groups, closing the enemy'sstrongly fortified shores to carry out sustained bombardments against Japanesecoastal defenses and render effective cover and fire support for the majorinvasion operations in this area. Commanded by forceful leaders and manned byaggressive, fearless crews the ships of Squadron TWENTY THREE coordinated as asuperb fighting team; they countered the enemy's fierce aerial bombing attacksand destroyed or routed his planes; they intercepted his surface task forces,sank or damaged his warships by torpedo fire and prevented interference withour transports. The brilliant and heroic record achieved by Destroyer SquadronTWENTY THREE is a distinctive tribute to the valiant fighting spirit of theindividual units in this indomitable combat group and of each skilled andcourageous ship's company."

For the President,

James ForrestalSecretary of the Navy

73k

USS Converse (DD-509) in December 1942 as completed before any modifications were done.

Rick E. Davis

60k

The USS Converse (DD-509) on 23 March 1944 pulling away from the USS Montpelier (CL-57). The Converse was armed at this time with a non-standard AA Armament, four twin 40mm gun mounts (one on fantail, one between #53 and #54 mounts, and the two amidships mounts) and 8-20mm guns. Photo from the Naval Historical Center.

USS Converse (DD-509) on 10 June 1944, as she approaches the USS Miami (CL-89).

Rick E. Davis/Wolfgang Hechler

173k

Newspaper clipping describing the salvage by USS Converse (DD-509) of the USS Chase.

Ron Reeves

102k

USS Converse (DD-509), Underway off the Hunters Point Navy Yard, San Francisco, California on 9 October 1944. Converse is painted in Camouflage Measure 31, Design 2C. For plans of this design, see: Photo # 80-G-109625 for the port side pattern, and Photo # 80-G-109626 for the starboard side and decks. Courtesy of the U. S. Naval Insitute, James C. Fahey Collection. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo #: NH 95051

Robert Hurst

128k

Nest view of Converse and John Rodgers in the Charleston NSY piers, November 1945. Photo by Swede Swenson, USS Thorn.

D.Schroeder/J.Chiquoine

165k

May 22 1959, Philadelphia Navy Yard, being prepped for transfer to Spain.

Ed Zajkowski

On Spanish Service

105k

Cayetano Valdés y Flores Bazán y Peón. Born in Sevilla, 28 September 1767. Died in San Fernando de Cádiz, 6 February 1835. Spanish sailor, 17th Commandant General of the Spanish Royal Navy.

Spanish destroyer Almirante Valdés (D-23), ex-USS Converse (DD 509), one of Arleigh Burke's "Little Beavers". This and the next two photos were taken in Barcelona, Spain, on 13 May 1983. Prior to her transfer to Spain Converse was modernized along the general lines of project SCB-74A, and was not substantially altered in her years under the Spanish flag, though she did receive (in the early 60s) more modern radars with heavier antennas, which required a tripod foremast in place of her original pole. Converse was one of the "early", or "round bridge", Fletchers.

Fabio Peña

106k

Noticeable in this photograph are the forward 5"/38 single mounts, with a Hedgehog immediately abaft #2 mount, on the 01 level. The main GFCS (Mk.37) was mounted on a high pedestal atop the bridge and fitted with a Mk.25 radar. Her starboard Mk.63 GFCS, for her waist 3"/50 guns, can be seen in a tub immediately abaft the stack.

Fabio Peña

121k

This photo shows the aft 5"/38 single mounts, the aft twin 3"/50 mount (with a Mk.56 GFCS), and the waist starboard 3"/50 twin mount (with a Mk.34 radar "dish", associated to the Mk.63 GFCS). The foremast carries the antennas of the SPS-6 air search radar (the largest antenna) and the SPS-10 surface search radar (the smaller antenna, mounted higher). The aft funnel supports radome-enclosed radar direction-finders as well as the usual "derby" and "sword" radar warning receivers, at the ends of the yardarm; abaft the funnel is a quintuple torpedo tube mount, with a reloading practice machine abeam of it, on the weather deck. Also visible is a Mk.6 depth charge thrower, by the life raft containers.

At 0852 on Thursday, 13 June 1985, destroyer Almirante Valdés (D-23) and submarine Siroco (S-72) collided while conducting exercises in waters of Cartagena. Siroco suffered damage to her sail and masts. Almirante Valdés had scratches and a water leak into the hull in the starboard bow, and a flooded ammunition magazine. There were no personnel casualties.

Francisco Javier Santos Vazquez/Spanish Ministry of Defense

USS CONVERSE DD-509 History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The hazegray Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.